The newly-acquired ship from the United States, the BRP Andres Bonifacio (FF-17), is being eyed to be deployed in the seas of Sulu to help in dealing with security threats, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.

“I expect to see this ship painted in grey to ply the Sulu seas to help in the prevention of the kidnappings and piracy in the seas. This ship will certainly be a valuable platform in the pursuit of the constitutional mandate of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines),” he said in his speech at the welcome ceremonies for the new ship at the Manila South Harbor on Friday.

The former US Coast Guard Hamilton-class cutter that can stay for a long period at sea even in rough weather will join similar ships BRP Gregorio Del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz in patrolling the country's waters.

To further note, all the other remaining WHEC-715s (still in USCG service) also has starboard dual-point davits.

And from this Boutwell video (Arctic Shield 2015), take a look starting at 1:27... my observations that due to the two-point connection, launching the rhib is more stable compared with the single-arm crane (on the port side).

MANILA, Jan. 12 (PNA) -- A total of 30 members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 2017, who have decided to join the Navy after graduation, have boarded the BRP Andres Bonifacio (FF-17) to start their sea phase training.

Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna said the above-mentioned training started Thursday and will last until January 31.

The ship, the third Hamilton-class cutter in Philippine service, will also sail to the Visayas and Zamboanga City while these prospective naval officers are undergoing their sea phase training, he added.

The latter is the last phase of training as they join the PN.

Lincuna said this is an opportunity for these cadets to experience being at sea and acclimatize themselves to the Navy environment onboard a warship before embarking to a new commitment as officers of the PN.

Meanwhile, coinciding with the sea phase training, this will also serve as a shakedown mission for the personnel of BRP Andres Bonifacio since its arrival last Dec. 10 after its transfer from the US.

It is a maiden mission that will test the endurance at sea and operability of newly-installed ship’s equipment.

"Further, aboard FF-17 were the Philippine Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Team (PMC, DBT) that will showcase musical performance to local populace of each port of call. Also, the scheduled arrival of BRP Andres Bonifacio is timely to the major festivals of the provinces that they will be visiting that includes Sinulog Festival of Cebu on Jan. 15 and Dinagyang Festival of Ilo-ilo on Jan. 20," Lincuna added.

BRP Andres Bonifacio is an excellent training platform for midshipmen of PMA Class of 2017 as the vessel features relatively modern navigation equipment, damage control paraphernalia and modern engineering facilities that would equip cadets with the necessary knowledge and skills as they are set to operate and maintain modern vessels and aircraft on the pipeline of PN Modernization Program.

This PN endeavor is in line with the PN Human Capital Strategy based on the tenets of PN Sail Plan 2020 which is to develop highly competent and motivated professionals. With this, aggressive recruitment will also be undertaken simultaneously along with the port calls to provincial destinations of the mission. (PNA)BNB/PFN

This was taken a few days ago. Photo credit to Edsy@flickr.com I appears that this is dockside painting, without going dockyard downtime. Anyone who had been following her or the other DPCFs has an idea where this is.

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Obsolete weapons do not deter. You do not base a defence policy on someone else's good intentions.- Apr 7, 1989 [Baroness Margaret Thatcher, UK PM (1979-90)]

This was taken a few days ago. Photo credit to Edsy@flickr.com I appears that this is dockside painting, without going dockyard downtime. Anyone who had been following her or the other DPCFs has an idea where this is.

This is in Pier 13, Manila Port. The same with with the photos I posted here recently.

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Never assume unless it is highly stated.

Protect the integrity, sovereignty and welfare of the Philippine Republic

BAE Systems Land & Armaments LP, Armament Systems Division, Louisville, Kentucky, is being awarded a $25,427,512 firm-fixed-price supply contract for the fiscal 2016 production of the MK 38 MOD 3 Machine Gun System (MGS)............This contract combines purchases for the Navy (84 percent); and the governments of the Philippines (8 percent); and Jordan (8 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. ........Work will be performed Hafia, Israel (67 percent); and Louisville, Kentucky (33 percent), and is expected to be completed by May 2018.

^...An ordnance alteration (ORDALT) has been developed to implement a 7.62mm coaxially mounted automatic gun. This ORDALT completed live-fire testing in late FY 2016 and will complete safetyqualification in FY 2017. In addition, improvements to the Mk 38 Mod 2 have been implemented, including an enhanced electro-optical/infrared sensor with increased range and resolution for tracking and identification to counter swarm fast-attack craft/fast in-shore-attack craft. Mk 38 Mod 3 is assigned for this improved configuration.

Logged

Obsolete weapons do not deter. You do not base a defence policy on someone else's good intentions.- Apr 7, 1989 [Baroness Margaret Thatcher, UK PM (1979-90)]